nerve tonic
Calming medicinal drink
A nerve tonic is a preparation claimed to calm or strengthen the nervous system.
The term belongs to 19th and early 20th century medicine, when patent medicines promised relief from "nervous exhaustion" or "shattered nerves": The doctor prescribed a nerve tonic for her anxiety.
Most were alcohol, opiates, or cocaine—the term now sounds quaint or ironic.
- calmingInducing a settled state
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- elixirMythical healing draught
- remedyCurative treatment or fix
- restorativePromoting return to health
sedative · anxious · frazzled · valerian · chamomile · apothecary · medicine cabinet · tincture · syrup · patent medicine · exhaustion · fatigue · neurasthenia · Victorian · bottle · dropper · herbal · fortifying
- herbal remediesechinacea, chamomile, valerian, ginseng, ginkgo biloba
- Patent Medicinesnake oil, cure-all, nostrum, elixir, panacea
- tonicsreviver, fortifier, elixir, cordial, restorative
- cure-allspanacea, cure-all, nostrum, snake oil, miracle cure
- Celery Benefitscelery seed, celery juice, fiber, potassium, vitamin K